The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features Black Roots, from Bristol, England. This collection on this website is unique because everything is in it, including numerous additions of singles to the existing albums.
The first distinction to be made, is that although Black Roots is an English reggae group, six of their eight members are Jamaican born. Formed on the street corner of the Carribean influenced St. Paul's district in Bristol, in 1979, these were the years of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The feeling of oppression rooted in their environment lead them to sing 'militant pacifism roots reggae', as they would call it themselves. The vocalists are Errol Brown, Delroy O'Gilvie and Carlton Smith, who also plays keyboards. Cornell Francis is on lead guitar, Derrick King, who has recently passed away played bass. Kondwani Ngozi, the younger of the two brothers in the band on congas and doing vocal harmony, Jabulani Ngozi, rhythm guitar. The drums are played by Trevor Seiwright , Carlton Smith and Derrick King. They gained an audience by travelling throughout Britain, playing their brand of roots reggae in England's major colleges, universities and at festivals. They soon attracted more attention by television appearances on "Neighbours", "BBC West", "HTV West" and "Rockers Roadshow". They also recorded live sessions for Radio 1 in Britain.
As we have encountered in the first three editions, every artist, or group, has its own distinctive sound. Whereas The Royall Rasses and The Congos sing with a high pitched voice, Black Roots has a deeper tone.
Originally this album was titled Black Roots. It had taken Black Roots 4 years after their formation to produce the album. Two years later it was re-recorded for the radio shows of John Peel and David Jensen. Two tracks were added that previously did not appear on Black Roots. The In Session album cover was a restyled version from that of the earlier Black Roots. 'Confusion', the first track, did originally not appear on the Black Roots album. It is a call for all brothers and sisters to see that society today is going crazy and confused. You can here the slow rhythm of the drum that is typical for the earlier work of Black Roots. The same pace of rhythm is held for 'Survival', where the Roots ask for attention to adhere to Jah for survival. 'Juvenile Delinquent' is a strong cry in which the Black Roots call upon the leaders of the countries to do something for the youth, for they are not themselves to blame for the situation which they are in. "Every day they're walking the streets to kill time. No money in their pocket, so now they must commit crime. Leaders what can you do to help the situation. From stopping the youth men getting more convictions". This is the situation that Black Roots will refer to in later albums, to regard the progress being made. "'What Them A Do', in a' Jah Jah land", meaning Africa. The Black Roots mention South Africa, Angola and Botswana specifically. A high tune sets in to start 'Move On'. This song had been recorded as a single previously with a somehow different sound. The feeling portrayed here is not to linger on after a finished relationship. It will not be the last track on the love genre, although for that we need to progress two albums. "'Opportunity' is what we want to get", and it is explained how we are supposed to attain it. The very strong 'Tribal War' calls to abolish all tribal warfare. Fighting against one's brothers and sisters is a disgrace, as they put it. Catholic and Protestant killings are used as an example. We must realize that 'Africa' is our homeland, and the repatriation that Bob Marley advocated is felt strong by Black Roots, hence the name of the band and this song. 'The Father' has to show us the way, after which the Black Roots are 'Chanting For Freedom', as was 'Confusion', not included on the first release of the album. It continuous Peter Tosh's '400 Years' by raising awareness of mental slavery, besides physical. Originally there are no more songs on this album. However, on the Roots Reggae Library, three singles were added to In Session. The first track is a single that Black Roots had recorded for their appearance on Rockers Roadshow, a television series on Channel 4, on which they played four live songs. They opened with 'Bristol Rock', a tribute to one of England's first immigrant slaves, Scipio Africanus, who is buried in their home town, Bristol. 'The System' is another one of those singles, leading again to their dream of repatriation. If you listen the first two songs one after another, you barely notice the point when the first ends and the second starts. The album ends with a third single from 1981, which is titled 'Go Before Us Jah'. It is a very nice track, produce by Ras Tekla.
In 1984 Black Roots reached a wider audience by recording the soundtrack for The Front Line, a comedy series on television about two half-brothers, one a policeman, the other a Rastafarian. The opening credits of a show would have Black Roots performing the theme tune. The released their second album which is named after the theme song. Compared to their previous album there are fewer songs. The album starts with 'War', advising us to abolish war in favor of unity and peace. On their previous album they had made clear their feelings about tribal war, juvenile delinquency, and their goal to survive by chanting for freedom. 'War' sums up these topics. It is followed by the steppers styled 'Signs & Wonders', filled with omens and revelations. The heavy tune sets in, for the theme song of 'Frontline', where Malcolm and Sheldon live like puss and dog, as they do in the sitcom. 'Far Over' is, as 'Africa' was, a repatriation song. Getting on the Black Star Line to start the back-to-Africa-movement. Although the album seems to evolve around the title track, it could be argued that 'Blackheart Man' is the main focus of Black Roots. Originally the track is ten minutes long, as the track is extended by it's dub. On this edit of the album there is no extension. As you will find, the album is not a lengthy one, as we finish it by listening to 'Struggling', teaching us to live a righteous way. The album consists of six songs only. On the Roots Reggae Library however, it is extended to eleven songs. 'Let It Be Me' is included on the Ina Different Style album, which is an album that is almost similar to the one we will see after The Front Line. It is a reggae love song, followed by a very different version of a song we have previously heard on In Session, it is 'Move On'. The version here is much more up-tempo. The following track, 'Suzy Wong', tells a tale based on the novel written by Richard Mason, The World Of Suzy Wong. This song also appears on the Live Power album. The last song on Live Power is a song that has not been recorded in studio, 'Black Roots Skank'. The very happy single 'Start Afresh' is up next for you to enjoy. Another single, 'Zoom', was recorded one year after Ina Different Style was released. It has quite an unusual combination of sound and lyrics for the group. That ends an album that originally consists of only six tracks, but now has eleven, uniquely on the Roots Reggae Library.
For their next album, released in 1985, Black Roots teamed up with Mad Professor, moving away slightly from their earlier produced sounds, embracing new technology and producing techniques to bring in a different style. We can instantly here it on the first track on the album, 'Realize'. It calls for a positive perspective on each new day. "Oi, oi, oi, it's like a 'Pin In The Ocean'", preceding 'Release The Food', "to save a life". After having heard the first three tracks you'll have found the different sound on this album. They have prepared us for 'Freedom', which takes the new sound to bring a strong message for African freedom, telling that America, Europe and the USSR are to blame. Poverty is a reoccurring topic through the music of Black Roots, as in 'Poor Children'. It is especially the children who suffer from poverty. 'Spare The Rod' comes from the proverb "spare the rod and spoil the child", which treats the issue in what form children should be chastised in order for them to grow up learning the right norms and values. 'Conmen', explaining the righteous way is not the twisting of minds and false acquisitions with which one is bound to hurt another. 'Seeing Your Face' has similar melodic tunes as 'Freedom', although this song is about the love for a woman. The cover of the album shares the image of how 'All Day All Night' is meant. It is a call for help for those who face harsh conditions of work and living. On the other side of babylon lives the 'Mighty Lion', a track meant for those described in 'All Day All Night', "on the other side of Babylon where all the houses burnt down". 'Suffer Me Not' has the lyrics spoken rather than sung, bringing quite a different sound than other Black Roots's tracks. 'Childless Mother' is the last song on the album, telling us not to mess around with mother nature when it comes to newborns.
In 1990 Black Roots delivered Natural Reaction, which would for a long time be considered their final album. There was also the first change in the line up of the group, as Delroy O'Gilvie had left the group to begin touring as a solo artist. Seiwright and King also departed, leaving a five-membered Black Roots. It is a 'Natural Reaction' to move to the reggae beat is their statement on the title track. The style here, and on the rest of this album, will be reminiscent of what we were introduced to on 'All Day All Night'. "Can't get a job and qualified to rob" as we 'Drive The Road' on the albums second rhythm. Judgement day will arrive and 'Barriers' will come down. But although the barriers will fall, we must be home, 'Home Once More'. Those last two songs share an upfull melody, whereas in 'Tip Toe' the sound is more serious, and opens with the direct flare "diamonds and pearls, are what most girls love to wear". From woman we turn to Jah, to "'Guide Us' from the hands of the wicked". The love for Jah is forwarded to the next 'Living With Jah'. We must get ready to unite and rebel, and let hear the 'Voice Of The People'. Examples are set for Africa, China, Romania and Europe. A short version of this song can be heard on the Live collection album Mighty Lion, that I have compiled myself. It is filled with songs performed life at several different venues at different time intervals. The ninth track on Natural Reaction is the excellent 'Where Did I Go Wrong', which style could remind one of the earliest work we had heard on In Session. 'Strange Land' on the other hand sounds more similar to 'Home Once More' although the subject is the complete opposite, knocking on an unfamiliar door, in a place not seen before. "First she says 'She Wants', then she says she needs", a song again about a woman, but this time love has gone. Another live album can be found, it is Bristol Rock, although 'Bristol Rock' the song itself is not on it, it was recorded in 1986, in Bristol.
After having recorded Natural Reaction, the band had seemed to cease to exist. Two decades later, bass guitarist Derrick King passed away, after which the others decided it was time to reunite and record a new album. In 2012, On The Ground was released. Black Roots were able to produce a fresh list of tracks that is in line with the other albums, whereas other artists seem to have had difficulty to re-create that old roots reggae sound. 'I Believe' have the band seeing that although many years have passed since their first tracks, life is just as hard as it was during the recording of In Session, and The Front Line. The same for 'Pompous Way', "how can you fix it, when you no know it if it no broke, no fix it". Nostalgia sets in at 'Long Long Ago', recalling a simpler life in rural Jamaica, planting yams and coco. Musical 'Militancy' has been a theme throughout their discography, and the message will be heard in this album often. The track does good to their personal description of 'militant pacifism roots reggae' On Jah Jah 'Earth Land' has a strong reggae vibe to it. Another typical reggae subject is regarded in 'I Am Flying', which is a metaphor for the state of mind. Remembering the days of hunger and oppression, realizing once more that little has changed since in 'Slavery'.In 'Oh Mama Africa' the birth place of life itself is celebrate, and the sound and lyrics are much more positive relative to the strong messages in other songs. A mellow vibe is shared with 'Hide Out'. Mellowness is contained in 'On The Ground', the title track. 'You step up to the play, and you 'Call Me Out'", that has an uptempo bridge. 'No Fee', as in a bus fee, with a sound that has the style of Toots & The Maytals written all over it. 'Struggle' is a tribute to Paul Bogle, Shaka Zulu, Steve Biko, others, and Africans in general. We are exceeding the unwritten rule in reggae to not include more than ten, or a few more, tracks. Black Roots have made an exception for this reunited album, and continue to sing 'Landscape', as a full group. 'Without Direction' shares similarities with 'I Am Flying'. The next, strong song, is targeting 'Capitalism', saying it is man made invention not functioning to support its people. 'Come And Sing', an unmistakable spiritual song to Jah Rastafari.
Black Roots is one of the few Reggae groups that have been steadily producing music even after they were added to the Roots Reggae Library. Ghetto Feel was released two years after they had started recording again after 22 years of absence. Dark times in 'Cloudy Night' , "no moonshine, no sunshine", which is why we are welcomed in the house of Jah. Luckily we've got Jah and he will prevent 'Bad Mind'. Others do not have that fortune. I like the melody of this track. "Wheeping and mourning, dead in Soweto", 'A Wah So', "how long shall we carry this ya burden, they've lost their souls". "If you play with puppy it will lick your mouth". A song that can stick on your mind for a while is "I've lost my way to 'Albert Villa', can't help you, cause Francis closed down, in Trinidad plot", "hear and deaf, see and blind". The song is played in a faster tempo. The title track is 'Ghetto Feel', and Black Roots sing about the ghetto feel in many places in this world, New York, The Bronx, Trenchtown, Paris. They make a plea for peace and love in those ghettos. "A weh we a go do when we come to 'Reclaim' all that is rightful ours". They sing about peace in the Israel and Palestine zone. "Babylon it a burn!" On Ghetto Feel there is 'Street Life', the dungeons of Babylon, "row River Jordan row". On a 'Lonely Journey' to the land of no return. No one ever returned to tell the tale. For 'The Earth' "the sun is shining so bright" and "the wind is blowing so light". Nevertheless, Zion feels like Babylon. "What is the matter, the earth are you, and you are the earth, so when you find yourself you will find Mount Zion and I", "righteousness is overflowing". Eating up all the fruits, "written in their roots", the 'Carnival Sounds', with the "sound system of the organizers". "It has 'Drawn To My Attention' what you have done to my nation, drying all the natural resources, and bleed poor people dry". This is all stopping the growth. The Melody of 'Stuck Pon Waff' is a strong one! "Sinking ship, man overboard", they are referring to the old colonial powers of Brittain what must be brought to an end completely.
You are asked where your heart is. Is it hidden? 'Son Of Man'? "Black man take your head out the sand", there is "control of human life" so "wake up and get it together". We do not need to guess who they are referring to when singing "killing for oil". "Corruption is their only paradise". A high pitched voice for 'War Zone', warning you for your friends. You better watch out living in a war zone, because the next one to go could be me or you. I am a big fan of 'All Sing The Song Key'. Jah Lord will safe you if you repent. It was Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley who said that you should look at yourself to find your saviour. "Hail him to make ends meet" and "shout it out". Baby blue, from a fruitful womb, 'One Ebony Girl'. "Trying to find your possessions on earth, they call her name one girl ebony, whit teeth and black gum, remove wisdom teeth". Protect yourself because 'Prevention' is better cure". We have been warned that man shall destroy himself in the end. Kingdom shall come but it will also fall. The Black Roots care about nature as well, singing that the ocean is polluted. "Solomon was wise, he had seven wives". They go on to sing about Moses, David and Goliath, and Selassie walking down the River Nile in 'Guess Who'. Samson defeated the Philistine and Israel defeated ten thousand men of Moab. It is time to 'Wake Up' and penetrate the Black Roots soul.The lyrics are rather repetitive. Then the police siren wails and you 'Can't Get Out Of That'. "White feather come out of the dark, to hear stone of breaking all records, hold on Peter, Blackbeard is passing through, Judas is the one that hold you 'til they walk and come and cuff you". Quite a nice song it is. Stopped by an officer he took out his chalwa and said "trickle 'Trickle Trickle Treat'". They don't want to follow nations that treat women as inferior, "man a the vampire". Society has stopped caring for elder people. There is no more compassion and we are no longer under the same roof. So they sing 'Poor Old Mama'. The album originally not ends with the following track but the dub of 'Son Of Man' has been omitted from the album. Thus 'One Thing' is the last you will hear on Son Of Man. Poor people are left down the drain. The motto is to rise again and spread the word.
Studio Albums
««««« (1983) In Session
««««« (1984) The Front Line
««««« (1987) All Day All Night
««««« (1990) Natural Reaction
««««« (2012) On The Ground
««««« (2014) Ghetto Feel
««««« (2016) Son Of Man
Original Date Of Publishing: October 2012
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